Shaw names starters at center, cornerback and linebacker

Stanford didn’t win the Rose Bowl, or earn the No. 4 spot in this year’s preseason rankings, with only 22 players.

That was essentially head coach David Shaw’s message Thursday, when he reluctantly resolved the few remaining position battles of training camp. Shaw named Khalil Wilkes as the starter at center, Wayne Lyons as the starter at one cornerback spot and James Vaughters as the starter at one outside-linebacker position.

Shaw then suggested the designations meant practically nothing.

Linebacker James Vaughters, making a tackle last year vs. San Jose State, earned a starting spot. (Getty photo)

It was classic coach-speak, a way to mollify the “reserves” and keep them motivated for the impending season. Shaw’s stance also speaks to the abundance of talent on his team’s roster, in striking contrast to, say, 2007 – when previous head coach Jim Harbaugh took over the program (with Shaw as an assistant).

“That’s the biggest thing that’s changed in Stanford football the last five years: We have depth,” Shaw said. “We can rotate guys, as opposed to having really good front-line guys and nobody to back them up.”

But only one player can start at each position in the season opener Sept. 7 against San Jose State (yes, that’s the way it works). So here’s a closer look at the spots Shaw clarified after nearly three weeks of training camp.

**Center: Wilkes began camp in a duel with Kevin Danser and Conor McFadden. Stanford’s coaches ultimately decided to keep Danser as the starter at right guard. Wilkes, a fifth-year senior who played left guard last year, moves to center.

“I think playing last year at guard helped him a ton,” Shaw said. “He saw so many looks, especially going against our defense in practice. He has command of the offense.”

**Cornerback: Lyons, a junior from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., edged Barry Browning and Devon Carrington to earn the starting job. Alex Carter, coming off a strong freshman season (honorable mention all-Pac-12), will be the other corner.

Browning and Carrington are still expected to get significant playing time. Worth noting: Stanford ranked seventh in the conference last season in pass defense, while ranking No. 1 in most other defensive categories.

**Linebacker: Vaughters emerged from a taut duel with Blake Lueders to take the outside spot opposite Trent Murphy. Shayne Skov and A.J. Tarpley are the inside linebackers.

“It was close,” Shaw said of the Vaughters-Lueders tussle. “We’ll rotate guys and there shouldn’t be a drop off.”

After resolving these three positions, Shaw kept his options open at running back, where the Cardinal must replace Stepfan Taylor. As he has throughout camp, Shaw insisted Stanford will use four or five players at the position – with Tyler Gaffney and Anthony Wilkerson as the “lead dogs.”

Briefly: The players voted Skov, Murphy, defensive end Ben Gardner and guard David Yankey as team captains for the season. … Shaw acknowledged there’s value in having fresh game film of San Jose State. The Spartans kicked off their season Thursday night against Sacramento State.